Ryder’s double ton takes New Zealand to 592 for six (Tea report)

Napier, March 27 (IANS) Jesse Ryder’s maiden double century and Brendon McCullum’s quickfire ton piled agony on India as New Zealand reached a mammoth 592 for six at tea on the second day of the second cricket Test at McLean Park here Friday. New Zealand scored at a fast clip in the second session (144 runs in 33 overs), with Ryder (201) the lone wicket to fall after lunch.

Ryder’s dismissal brought no respite for the tired Indians as Brendon McCullum (101 not out) hit an attacking century and added 115 runs with skipper Daniel Vettori (43 not out) before tea.

Ryder became the 11th New Zealand batsman to hit a double century and the first since Stephen Fleming’s 262 against South Africa at Cape Town three years ago.

The stocky player had bailed out his side in the company of Ross Taylor (151) with a record 271-run fourth-wicket partnership Thursday when New Zealand were at a precarious 23 for three.

He then added 121 runs with James Franklin for the fifth to put the side in a commanding position.

Ryder, seen essentially as a pinch-hitting bits-and-pieces One-Day player, showed enormous concentration by batting for eight hours to prove his temperament. He showed his defence is as tight to back his free-flowing strokes.

Ryder, who scored his maiden Test 100 in the first Test in Hamilton, cracked 24 fours and a six in his 328-ball knock, driving on the offside with authority.

The only way he could have been out was being run out and he was lucky to get away twice. Once when he backed up too much in a bid to help Taylor get to his 100 and then this morning Franklin almost got him out when he was on 147.

He was out immediately after reaching the milestone when he dragged a Zaheer Khan (3-129) delivery onto the stumps.

Hard hitting McCullum then took centrestage and played freely to score his century which came in just 131 balls with the help of 11 fours.